Nati Sound Reviews

Band: Emmaline
Visit: facebook.com/emmalinemetal
Album: 2011 Demo
Reviewer: Mike Heffron
Photo: Courtesy of the Emmaline facebook


(Emmaline)

If you’ve been following the Nati Sound then by now you’ve noticed an awful lot of metal and hardcore bands being posted up lately. Why is that? Because the local scene is absolutely exploding right now! In a good way. The Cincinnati -core scene has been percolating for years, birthing a few notable acts like Close To Home (featured in the April issue of AP magazine), Corpus Christi (Victory records), and Rose Funeral (Metalblade records).

The Cincinnati metal/-core scene is something to watch because these musicians are oozing talent (if you can dig yoself some breakdowns). The band Emmaline isn’t actually from Cincinnati, but about an hour northwest in Connersville, Indiana. However, they’ve played the Nait multiple times and are looking for recognition within our respected little scene.


(Curran)

Emmaline’s demo starts off with the track “Ascendancy”, emphasis on the -dancy if you like breaking it down on the floor at a show. Drummer Blake Tidrow’s beats are gloriously jaw dropping. His impeccable blast beats and double bass fills are a testament to the band’s professionalism. He’s not overly-flashy or attention-seeking with his playing; he just provides the perfect pounding backdrop Emmaline needs. Fast forward to 1:30 on the demo’s third tack “Deception” and you will see exactly what I mean.


(Blake)

Vocalist Brett Vadakin is a powerhouse screamer with a range that cuts through the mix while remaining lyrically audible (not an easy feat!). He doesn’t go for the cliche bottomed-out low growls or shrieking highs that clog the scene, instead Brett has found a unique middle ground that remains appealing song after song.


(Brett rocking some long hair)

Listening through the three song demo, I found myself envisioning Parkway Drive and August Burns Red. However, Emmaline doesn’t sound like a copy of either, or anyone for that matter. The guitarists Chris and Curran, with Devin on bass, sync up like a well oiled bulldozer. Their harmonies and trade offs keep the tremolo riffing and breakdowns catchy but simple enough that even someone unfamiliar with deathcore can rock along to the groove.


(Devin and Chris)

I suggest adding Emmaline to your music library the first chance you get. Until then, you can stream the demo for free on their facebook page. Definitely keep an eye on this Indiana quintet and be sure to catch them the next time they come through our beloved Queen City.

The Daily Dose

Band: Behold The Legend



Genre: Metalcore

Bio: Starting in early 2010, Behold The Legend has made great strides coming from their small hometown located just outside the Greater Cincinnati area. Trying to break away from the norms of their genre, the band combines influences from all genres, from Indie to Deathcore. The band has grown together to write in a style they believe they can innovate and grow into better musicians while writing and preforming. The band recorded 5 brand new songs at On The Road Recordings(Nathan Hook,Chris Rubey) and are set to release their self-titled effort online December 4th. There are more things in the works for the band, so talk to us and stay with us. (Taken from their myspace)



Visit: www.facebook.com/BeholdTheLegendband

See them: March 26th at The Attic

The Daily Dose

Band: The Upset Victory



Genre: Rock

Bio:"Storming in from Cincinnati, Ohio with all the power of a weighty sledgehammer, all-killer-no-filler, The Upset Victory. With ever-so-slight dashes of Thursday, Story of the Year, and Saves the Day in their sonic recipe, these lads are on the cusp of a major "victory" indeed! Another spot-on-winner and stellar act from the heads in the know over at Take Over Digital!" - Myxer.com



Visit: www.myspace.com/theupsetvictory

Music Video:

The Daily Dose

Band: Keep Me From Dreaming



Genre: Hardcore

Bio: Keep Me From Dreaming is a melodic hardcore band located out of Dayton, Ohio. They are serious about their music and trying to produce a new sound in the music scene. Only being together for a few months, Keep Me From Dreaming has already played many shows, most of them being out of state and weekend tours. They will be recording their EP within the next few months and planning a summer tour with some amazing bands. Keep checking back for updates on an amazing up and coming Ohio band!
(Taken from their facebook page)

Link: www.myspace.com/keepmefromdreamingband

Video:

ANOTHER UPDATE!!! HOLY SH@T!!

Keep Me From Dreaming | Myspace Video

Daily Dose

We're back! We apologize for the lull in content we've been putting up. We're going to begin downsizing our postings to better provide you with consistent updates. To do this we are starting a series called The Daily Dose, we'll put up a local band, give you some info, links, and then you check them out! One new band a day keeps the music bores away. So without further ado, our new series, The Daily Dose!

Band: Allies Aside


Genre: Hardcore

Bio: Hey Guys! We are Allies Aside. We consist of 5 members, Patrick (Vocals), Steve (Guitar), Vincent (Guitar), Zach (Bass/ Vocals), and Brady (Drums). We are a local band from Cincinnati Ohio. Our genre of music is metal / hardcore. Our music consists of heavy breakdowns and intense screams. We love to see our fans mosh there brutal hearts out and bring the energy to our shows! So far we've had the opportunity to play at The Blue Note, Dirty Jacks, The Mad Hatter, The Underground, Fogarty's and more.

Links: www.wix.com/nestly/allies-aside

Music:

Nati Sound Reviews

Band: Altered
Album: Katch Me
Reviewer: Zeke Haskell
Photos: Courtesy of the Altered myspace.


Altered with fans


Sound: Altered is a band from Atwood, Kentucky (about 20 miles south of the Nati). These rough-around-the-edges guys aren’t exactly breaking musical barriers but they bring to the table an old-school heavy metal vibe, sprinkled with contemporary flourishes. Right from the start of the album it is clear that 80’s and 90’s metal still lives within Altered. These Kentucky boys sound like they should be taking whiskey body shots off strippers on Sunset Boulavard in Cali, with their wah-wah laden guitar solos and sludgy riffing that call to mind Alice In Chains mixed with Metallica and Motley Crue.


Kage


Lyrics and Vocals: Lyrics on Katch Me revolve around subjects like women, cars, war, and isolation. Lead vocalist “Cage” comes off as a smoky Vince Neil and Phil Anselmo while maintaining an original tone that shines but has moments of cliche uncertainty, like an occasionally reverberated laugh that sounds like James Hetfield at the end of Master of Puppets. Cage’s melodies are drenched in rock n’ roll attitude, with a range that goes from in-your-face highs to gutturally grimy lows.


Altered at Boomerang's bar in St. Bernard


Impression: A great biker bar soundtrack. The first song, Just Another Day carries a middle-finger message to anti-war advocates but it’s use of back up vocals and a speech in the bridge make the most unique track on the album. Other songs like Rolled Under Stone seem to give a bad-boy point of view on break up and recovery. The live recorded There gives great contrast to the heavier tracks with a more Stone Temple Pilots feel.


Zambini


The musicality of lead guitarist “Zambini” and the rest of the band is undoubted in their skill but questioned in their originality. The song writing is heavy metal through-and-through but rough, like the rest of the sound, and could use a little more polish. However, bands like Altered have a hard time conveying their full experience through only the recorded songs; a lot of the power comes in the live experience of seeing them on stage. Just something for the reader to keep in mind.

Overall Rating: 6.5/10
Check out altered on myspace: myspace.com/alteredatwood

Nati Sound Reviews

Band: Stoning Mary
Album: 2010 Demo
Reviewer: Mike Heffron



    I’ve been an avid fan of 90’s alternative music since I started high school way back in 2004. There is a special quality about grunge rock that struck a chord (musician pun) with me at that time in my life. Sadly, true grunge was long “dead” by the time I discovered its greasy corpse. At least that’s what I thought, but little did I know there was a band right here in Cincinnati carrying on the torch of the 90s alternative spirit. Their name is Stoning Mary and they’ve been rocking together since 2006. Late last year, Stoning Mary released a 4-song demo to display their new vision and sound. They were kind enough to send us a copy for review here at Nati Sound.



    “Lay you down, I’ll lay you out, one thing’s for sure, it’s gonna hurt!” vocalist Eric wails to start off the song “Black Ice”, the first track on the demo. A maelstrom of distorted guitars and a thunderous rhythm section fill out the dark atmosphere of Stoning Mary’s style. “Our sound is generally heavy with the ability to pull-back in both volume and style. We value our freedom to explore and refuse to be constrained by one particular label that works for us...We stress crafting good songs and appreciate the notion of solid vocals,” they say on their myspace.

    Influences like Alice in Chains, Stone Temple Pilots, TAD, and the Foo Fighters can all be heard in the 2010 demo. Stoning Mary certainly has a modern-rock sound, but they go beyond the typical radio-brand of post-grunge. The guitar solos on the demo blur the line between thrash metal and bluesy grime. While some of SM’s verses seem lacking, their catchy, pounding choruses make up for it with great chant-able lines like “You don’t know how they kick you down! You don’t care how they push you around!”



    I think Stoning Mary describe their sound perfectly with a single word: Angergasm. Themes of their songs revolve around the dark side of the psycho-social-political world we live in today. Many of the lyrics covey anger over exploitation, intimidation, and confusion. Eric’s vocal style range is very dynamic as he’s able to sing well in a raspy baritone but also soar up to reach tenor-range high notes.

    Overall, I recommend Stoning Mary as a band to keep an eye on. These guys are going hard to the paint with writing, rehearsing, and gigging. I have a feeling 2011 will be a big year of this Cincinnati three-piece. You can connect with SM on myspace (myspace.com/stoningmaryUSA) where you can also listen to the tracks off the 2010 demo for free.